The sciatic nerve is located in the back of the leg. It supplies the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg. The sciatic nerve also provides sensation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg, and the sole of the foot. Partial damage to the nerve may demonstrate weakness of knee flexion (bending), weakness of foot movements, difficulty bending the foot inward (inversion), or bending the foot down (plantar flexion). A person’s reflexes may be abnormal, with weak or absent ankle-jerk reflex. Several different tests can be performed to find the cause of sciatic nerve dysfunction.
If you have low back or leg pain, you probably have sciatica, an irritation of the nerves in the low back that result in back and leg pain. If you have this problem, you need to get it checked to make sure you know the cause, and avoid the chance of having permanent nerve damage. We commonly treat sciatic and low back pain with great success using non-drug therapies.
If you are having this problem, you need to be evaluated by a doctor that is an expert at the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. To schedule an appointment, call our office at (828) 324-0800. We are “in-network” providers with most insurance plans.
